A Message for Our Time

A Letter to Myself Seven Generations Into Our Future

by Ta'Kaiya Blaney

Thank you,I channel this thanks from the deepest trench of gratitude I can muster:For we have done it.

The Earth Revolutions, the movements against war, for education, to prioritizethe might of the pen, the endless persistence for equality, on the manydiverse levels of injustice, the movements to demolish the barrier of colonialismon culture, the occupy, the Idle no more's:We have done it, we have won it.

We have realized the strength of our global community bound by the purepassion to create equality and end injustice through recognizing our commonoutcome,To heal,To heal,And heal we did,Thank you,for bravery and strength in the face of the endless adversities of oil, gas,and greed,Thank you for ending injustice, and not finishing far from the finish line, dueto frustration, hopelessness, and that sinking, depressing feeling, that catastrophewas inevitable.For we have exceeded that finish line that was a symbol of peace from thewar waged on women, children, and fathers, peace from the war waged onmother earth

For I remember,I can see clearly, through the sentimental veil of childhood memories: thevoices of my elders that taught me about a land that no longer is land, waterthat no longer runs clear and cleansing, and a lifestyle that, despitenever living, my soul would ache for, long for, with every piece of my heart.I remember,

I remember hearing those hopeless cries of compassionate and loving individualskeen on restoring the sanctity of water and mother earth, who'svoices did not carry,

I remember the actions and rallies, meetings and conferences thatamounted to nothing, I remember disbelief and doubt that anything was toamount to anything I know the struggle and the pain,I remember,

I remember what must not be forgotten,That the human race is a dynamic of diversity only connected by thosecommon feelings of compassion and the never satisfied need to progress,evolve or enhance what is thereWe recognize beauty, love, unity and all that is sacred.

So Thank You,For combining compassion with the need to change to finish a movementthat has not only overcome the hardship, but healed our global woundsThank you,Thank you,For the debris polluting our ocean is gone, Indigenous cultures are reconnectedto the roots that bind traditions with environment, the Tar Sands areno more, the name of greed and oil extraction no longer governs the decisionsmade by our leaders, for our well being.Thank you!

For in the end we gathered in prayer around one fireWe amplified our common message and outcome through a global microphone,made of the millions that voiced the same truthIn the end our need for change unified and organized us all together in aglobal community.

In the end, it did not matter who you were, your race, religion, or wealth, forwe all drank the same water that comes from one worldwide well, that;In the end, was recognized as sacredIn the end we trailblazer our future, andIn the end we created a new beginningIt started with healing our water, earth, and ourselves. It began with restoringthe sanctity of water.

This article was originally published by Ta’Kaiya Blaney for World Water Day in 2015.